Walking Wild & Free

John Cyty's Mill 1

John Cyty's Cabin & Stamp Mill

Photo: J Whiting

John Cyty's Mill 2

John Cyty's Mill 3

John Cyty's Mill 4

John Cyty's Mill 5

John Cyty's Mill 6

John Cyty's Mill 7

A scenic, almost off-trail, hike to the ruins of a real prospector’s cabin and stamp mill.

Total Distance: 2.4 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 415ft. (1,317ft. to 1,184ft.)
Difficulty: Easy	0-5 Mile Difficulty: Moderate
View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0	Author’s Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0
Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]	Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]
Pets: No	Horses: No
Best Seasons: November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: No potable water; no swimming	Overnight Options: None
Trailhead Amenities: None	Crowd Factor: Solitude
Trailhead Access: 1.2
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Route to John Cyty’s Cabin & Stamp Mill

0.0 Unmarked Keane Wonder Spring Trailhead (1,317ft.). This is not the Keane Wonder Trailhead; the unmarked, almost unidentifiable trail is located about halfway down the west side of the Keane Wonder Parking Lot. Head west down by the old water tank and locate one of the two trails (there are two trails for much of the hike) and follow it generally northwest along the old pipeline. (36.667797°, -116.910710°)

0.75 Cross The Keane Wonder Spring Outlet (1,212ft.). You can hop across the many small channels created by the outlet of the Keane Wonder Spring. Nearby, a concrete basin collects water in a stagnate pool. The path more or less vanishes while it crosses the outlet channels; pick it up on the other side. Keep walking northwest on the trail; the old buildings will fairly quickly come into view on the hillside ahead and slightly to the right. Pass more springs about mile 1.0 and mile 1.1. (36.672647°, -116.921850°)

1.2 John Cyty’s Cabin & Mill (1,260ft.). Use respect as you explore the cabin and stamp mill; the boards around the cabin may or may not be safe to walk on. Views across the valley are excellent. For even better views, you can hike up toward the Big Bell Extension, though the path is very steep and long. (36.676338°, -116.926834°)

History & More

“Old Johnnie” Cyty was a colorful character and infamous around Rhyolite and the surrounding mining claims. He struck a claim near the Keane Wonder, then had a shoot-out with another prospector who also claimed the claim as his own. As Mr. Kyle was rather well-liked by the locals, and Johnnie was not exactly popular, even in the county seat, it’s not surprising that Old Johnnie ended up in prison for a time.

After his release, Old Johnnie returned to “his” claim to extract gold, building the cabin and stamp mill to refine the ore. While the mine was never profitable, Old Johnnie found other ways to make money, including an ill-fated attempt in the dance hall business in Rhyolite.

Eventually, Old Johnnie was hired by the owners of the Keane Wonder Mine to guard the rusting machinery after the mine was shut down. He took the job seriously, protecting it from early visitors to the area – one traveler complained that the caretaker was furious when she took a handful of hay from an old stable to feed the mules that were transporting her and her companion across the desert. Old Johnnie loved to entertain guests with stories of the wild west – of which he was always a hero. The prospector moved to Beatty shortly before his presumed death in 1944.

Download Trail Map

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Driving Directions

From Furnace Creek, take CA-190 north 10.6 miles to the junction for the Beatty Cutoff. Turn right toward Beatty. After 5.7 miles of driving north, turn right on the gravel road to the Keane Wonder Mine Trailhead 2.8 miles later.